N.H. gubernatorial candidates on the issues

Babiarz: Indifferent. Would only support a bill that treats everyone equally in line with article 83 of the New Hampshire constitution.

Hassan: Yes. Supports one high-end, highly regulated casino. Believes location should be determined through an open and competitive bidding process.

Lamontagne: Yes. Supports one casino at Rockingham Park in Salem. Believes revenue should be used to reduce taxes or fund existing obligations.

Support right-to-work?

Babiarz: Yes.

Hassan: No. Would veto right-to-work bills. Believes employees have a fundamental right to engage in collective bargaining with their employers.

Lamontagne: Yes. Believes “employee free choice legislation” would give New Hampshire a unique business advantage in the region.

Should N.H. participate in Medicaid expansion?

Babiarz: No. Believes we can’t afford the unfunded mandate.

Hassan: Yes. Says New Hampshire would receive $1.1 billion from the federal government to expand access to insurance; states that do not accept the funds risk having greater increases in private insurance rates.

Lamontagne: No. Believes New Hampshire should work with the federal government to block grant federal Medicaid funding to design and implement a state program.

Restore funding cuts to university system?

Babiarz: No. Feels the university system must become more productive.

Hassan: Yes. Supports restoring funding in exchange for a two-year freeze on in-state tuition at state universities and greater admission of New Hampshire students.

Lamontagne: Wants to increase scholarship support to directly benefit students. Doesn’t believe the state should be “simply funnelling money into the USNH bureaucracy.”

Should N.H. adopt an income tax?

Babiarz: No. The state needs to stop with unfunded mandates from the federal government.

Hassan: No. Hassan would veto a sales tax or income tax.

Lamontagne: No. Lamontagne supports a constitutional amendment on this year’s ballot that would permanently ban a state income tax.

Should all employers be required to cover birth control in health insurance plans?

Babiarz: No. Believes health insurance should be an agreement between an employer and employee.

Hassan: Yes. New Hampshire has a 12-year-old law that requires insurance plans to cover birth control. Hassan strongly supports that law and would veto any effort to repeal it.

Lamontagne: Believes contraception should be generally available, but does not support a government mandate on private business regarding contraceptives.

Restore funding for tourism promotion?

Babiarz: No. Says tourism promotion should be funded by businesses in the industry.